Cars

The automobile industry has come a long way since Karl Benz designed the first gas powered automobile in 1885. Even more astonishing is how much the designs have changed. As the engineering has advanced and become more sophisticated, so have the exterior and interior designs.
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History
Titanboa (Titanboa cerrejonensis)

Researchers in Colombia have found fossils of an ancient snake 42-45 feet long, that weighed more than a ton. This huge species of snake, named Titanboa cerrejonensis, lived 58 to 60 million years ago in a warm rainforest setting. So far, fossils from about 24 individual snakes have been discovered. The quest for a Titanboa skull is still underway.
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Food & Recipes

It is the beginning of February and California’s Central valley is painted vibrant shades of pink and white from millions of almond blooms. While much of the country is white with snow, California is white with blooms.
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Sports

02.01.09
Tampa Bay, Fl
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Then
Modern football developed from rugby in the 1860s and 1870s on the Eastern Coast of the United States, the first rules of which were written in 1876. Less than a century later, the first Super Bowl as we know it took place January 15, 1967 at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35 to 10, making the Packers Champions of Super Bowl I. Roman Numerals are used to title the game because the season spans two different years (this season began in September of 2008 and ends in February of 2009).
Now
The Super Bowl is the Championship game between one team from the National Football Conference (NFC) and one team from the American Football Conference (AFC) that determines the champion of the National Football League (NFL). The Playoffs are a series of games that determine the Champion of each Conference who then proceed to the Super Bowl.
XLIII
February 2, 2009 NFC Champions, the Arizona Cardinals, will face AFC Champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida. Both are the oldest teams in their conference, the Cardinals being the oldest continually run American football club in the U.S. today. The Steelers are the most championed franchise in their conference, while the Cardinals have not seen a championship since 1947, the second longest championship drought in U.S. sports history (second to the Chicago Cubs who have not won a championship since 1908). Both teams have dynamic histories, which should provide for an entertaining matchup.
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Famous People
The First Inauguration
George Washington was the first person inaugurated President of the United States. He was sworn into office on April 30, 1798, following the Revolutionary War. Washington’s ceremony set the standard for Inauguration Ceremonies and began the tradition of the Inaugural Address, a speech given by the new President that often serves to inspire and reassure the American people. This ceremony happens every four years and marks the beginning of each new Presidential term.
Barack Obama’s Inauguration
On January 20, 2009 the United States will witness the 56th Presidential Inauguration. Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, will take his Inaugural Oath and give his Inaugural Speech on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. This year’s Inauguration Theme commemorates the 200th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth with the title: “A New Birth of Freedom”.
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Odds & Ends
Imagine this - you’re in a room that is quickly filling up with smoke, making it impossible to see. It is dark, hot, loud and scary. While your first instinct might be to hide - don’t! Before a fire has the chance to take place, ask your parents if they have an emergency escape plan. If they don’t - work as a family to create one and practice it at least twice a year! Here is a link to download a tool to help you make your escape plan. Remember, practice makes perfect and could save your life.
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Fun & Games
Origin of Mahjong
The traditional game of Mahjong originated in China, specifically in the Shanghai province. Some believe that Mahjong was developed more than 2,500 years ago, yet the earliest evidence of the game dates back to the nineteenth century. The name ‘Mahjong’ roughly translates to “cluttering birds.” It is believed that this name came from the sound the tiles make when they are shuffled.
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Myth and Legend

The annual Autumn Moon Festival is an important Chinese holiday which celebrates the abundance of the Summer harvest. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, when the moon is said to be at its fullest and brightest. The Moon Festival is also commonly referred to as the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lantern Festival & Mooncake Festival. Mooncakes are a Chinese pastry that is traditionally enjoyed while celebrating the festival.
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Arts & Culture
Although the art of Bonsai originated in China over 2,000 years ago, the development and practice has primarily become part of the Japanese culture. The word ‘bonsai’ translates as ‘tray-planting’ and is not meant to describe the plant itself, but the process through which the plant was created. Bonsai is truly an art practice.
The art of bonsai consists of growing miniaturized trees and is based purely on aesthetics. Bonsai trees are not miniature naturally, but can be made out of any ordinary tree or shrub and are miniaturized through bonsai techniques. There are many different bonsai techniques, some are basic techniques while others are very advanced and only practiced by experienced bonsai masters.
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Famous People

Quick Facts
DOB: June 30, 1985
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Diet: 12,000 calories per day
Height: 6 foot 4 inches
Wingspan: 6 foot 7 inches
Weight: 195 pounds
Shoe size: 14
8 Gold Medals in the 2008 Olympics
Michael Phelps is officially the greatest swimmer in the world! Phelps had one ultimate goal in mind for the Beijing Olympic Games - to break the 7 gold medal record held by Mark Spitz since the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Although many people were skeptical that it could not be done, he proved them wrong. After winning his eighth gold medal in the 4×100 meter medley relay (his final swimming event in the 2008 Olympics) Phelps stated, “Nothing is impossible. With so many people saying it couldn’t be done, all it takes is an imagination, and that’s something I learned and something that helped me.” Winning eight gold medals in a single Olympic games is only a portion of Phelps’ Olympic accomplishments. Phelps has won a total of 16 Olympic medals so far in his career, making him the second most decorated Olympic athlete of all time. Phelps also holds 7 world swimming records and 6 U.S. swimming records.
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Arts & Culture
Have you ever wondered about the history of sneakers?
Today sneakers are very popular among people of all ages (children and adults alike). But once upon a time sneakers did not exist. Let us take you back to the pre-sneaker era to tell you the tale of how sneakers came to be.
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Arts & Culture

Louis Armstrong is a legend in the world of American Jazz music, and one of the most popular musicians of the 20th century. His influence has influenced and inspired several other popular musicians such as Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Marvin Gaye.
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